Portret van een Indonesische man met zwaard 1857 - 1880

This is a portrait photograph by Woodbury & Page, titled 'Portret van een Indonesische man met zwaard'. The composition is dominated by the figure of an Indonesian man, who stands almost centrally within the frame, his presence commanding the viewer's attention. He is adorned with a zwaard, a sword. The photograph's sepia tones lend it a historical feel, a nostalgic echo of the past. Consider how the subject is posed. His stance is upright, with his hands gently clasped, suggesting a demeanor of composed dignity. This contrasts with the sword he bears, a symbol of strength and power. This tension between demeanor and symbol invites us to consider how identity is performed and negotiated through cultural signs. The frame of the photograph itself is also noteworthy, decorated with repetitive geometric patterns, it acts as a visual border, demarcating the space within the image. The photograph, therefore, operates as a site of visual codes.